Summer was in full swing. Demos had found shelter beneath a bodega awning, inching sideways as the shadow crept with the minutes. Countless people had walked past, yet he had barely taken notice of any of them. The white-hot pavement and vague scents from a sewer grate had also gone ignored, omitted from his senses as he wrestled with his own thoughts. At one point, he had thought this was a good idea. He had requested it firmly, making eye contact with Ferris as he demanded to meet Alex.<\/p>\n
Now, he wasn\u2019t quite so sure. He wanted to like her. Alex was becoming a key figure in Ferris\u2019 life, powerful enough to make him smile with nothing but a text message. His eyes would tighten fondly at the mere mention of her name. Whoever she was, and whatever she was like, she did one thing that few had managed before.<\/p>\n
She made Ferris happy.<\/p>\n
After all this time \u2014 a decade, it was all Demos really wanted. To see his friend\u2019s face light up, to take in the honest flush in his complexion. Even so, Demos couldn\u2019t help the feeling low in his gut, the sickness, the sour bite that came when another person pulled off something you hadn\u2019t. Something you could never manage, no matter how hard you tried.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Demos lifted his third cigarette to his lips, taking a moment to realize it had already burnt down to the end. He frowned. The butt was tossed to the sidewalk, meeting its predecessors which had already been flattened into the grout. His cigarette case opened with a click<\/i>, revealing the last few tucked beneath a clip. Just as he began to tug one free, a figure joined him in the shade.<\/p>\n
\u201cChain smoking?\u201d Ferris asked, his eyes falling to the litter at his friend\u2019s feet.<\/p>\n
Demos lit the cigarette just to spite him. \u201cYou\u2019re late.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re on time,\u201d he said, both impressed and concerned. \u201cYou\u2019re never on time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Demos waved off the compliment, or accusation, leading Ferris east on the sidewalk. \u201cWhat were you doing on 4th<\/sup><\/span> Street, anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlex\u2019s birthday is coming up. I finally thought of something she\u2019d really want.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo you\u2019re breaking up with her?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShut up.\u201d Ferris swatted Demos\u2019 perfectly arranged hair for good measure. \u201cIt\u2019s from a Carcharodonto\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n \u201cEnglish,\u201d he said, already arranging each dark strand back into place.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a dinosaur fossil \u2014 a real one.\u201d Ferris held the glass case up to the light, admiring the serrated edges of the tooth. \u201cI got it at the natural history shop around the corner.\u201d<\/p>\n Demos was not impressed. \u201cA rock. You got her a pointy rock.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not a rock, it\u2019s\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n \u201cYou are the king of shitty gifts.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s that supposed to mean?\u201d<\/p>\n Demos chewed his lower lip as he was forced to remember his last birthday. \u201cYou got me an iTunes gift card.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause you\u2019re impossible to shop for,\u201d Ferris said with a sideways glare. \u201cAll you like is clothes and you hate the clothes I get you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey didn\u2019t fit.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally? The scarf didn\u2019t fit?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt didn\u2019t go with any of my coats!\u201d Demos gestured to his collar, outlining an imaginary lapel.<\/p>\n \u201cYour coats are black. Everything goes with black!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re just proving you don\u2019t know anything about\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n Ferris silenced him with a hand. \u201cShut up for a second, I need to stop at this bodega.\u201d<\/p>\n The shop was tucked between a deli and a coin laundromat, its signage a gaudy yellow and its windows plastered with sun-bleached beer ads. Neon lettering boasting an ATM flickered, the first two letters blinking in and out of existence.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you need, tampons?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, for Alex. She\u2019s rushing over from class.\u201d<\/p>\n Demos pinched the bridge of his nose. \u201cOh, come on. I didn\u2019t need to know that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGrow up, Demos.\u201d Ferris opened the door, prompting the jangle of a brass bell. \u201cYou can\u2019t shoot a guy in both knees and then get grossed out by periods.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI totally can.\u201d<\/p>\n Ferris said nothing, simply giving his friend a healthy eye-roll before stepping inside. The Italian glared, only spurred into action when he noticed the door drifting shut in his face. He flicked his cigarette aside, rushing to catch it before it closed.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, don\u2019t leave me out here.\u201d<\/p>\n Their destination was several blocks away, too close for a subway trip and too far to walk through in the summer heat. Unfortunately, they had chosen the latter option. Ferris tugged his shirt from his collar, fairly certain he could feel steam escaping from the prison of his clothes. Glowing letters hugged the restaurant\u2019s stone facade, spelling the name in both English and Korean \u2014 Arirang<\/i>. The scent of grilled short ribs and sesame oil escaped as a pair of customers stepped out, almost tempting enough to pull Demos out of his fussing.<\/p>\n Almost.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re not going to hold our reservation forever,\u201d he said, shifting his weight to his other foot.<\/p>\n Ferris flipped through his phone messages, making a pointed effort not to look at his companion. \u201cI told you she was coming over from school.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight, right. You\u2019re dating a student<\/i>.\u201d Demos glanced at the screen. \u201cAnything from Don?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAt least she went to college.\u201d Ferris angled the phone out of Demos\u2019 line of sight. \u201cAnd no, I haven\u2019t heard from him yet. He should have called by now.\u201c<\/p>\n This didn\u2019t seem to ease Demos\u2019 mood. He fiddled with his sleeves, making sure both ends were folded to the exact same level.<\/p>\n Ferris sighed. \u201cWould you stop fidgeting? You look fine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust fine?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGreat. You look great. Spectacular,\u201d Ferris said, only to see Demos\u2019 pout had remained. \u201cAnd she\u2019s going to leave me for you, then have her heart broken because you\u2019re the gayest thing on the planet.\u201d<\/p>\n Demos finally smiled. \u201cGood. Are you sure we can\u2019t use my fake name?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat name was awful,\u201d Ferris said. \u201cAnd that idea was awful.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? I like \u2018Nero.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou would. And remember, no mob shit, no talking about how I didn\u2019t go to prom, or that\u2014 that thing that happened in college, or\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey, sorry I\u2019m late.\u201d<\/p>\n Both men whipped their heads sideways. Alex was out of breath, struggling to look presentable in her striped blouse and navy skirt. Ferris brightened at the sight of her, silently grateful he wasn\u2019t the only one perspiring.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry about it,\u201d he said. \u201cWe just got here.\u201d<\/p>\n Shit<\/i>, Demos thought. She\u2019s pretty. <\/i>He took in a quick breath, arranging his lips into the most pleasant smile he was capable of.<\/p>\n \u201cYou must be Alex.\u201d He offered a hand, his palm surprisingly steady against the sick flutter in his chest. It took a moment for Alex to respond. She stood motionless, her gaze fixed on the Italian\u2019s face. The corners of her eyes tightened, her brow swept low, yet the expression vanished just as quickly as it appeared.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd it\u2019s \u2018Demos,\u2019 right?\u201d She shook his hand, her smile crooked in spite of her best efforts. \u201cGiorgetti.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right. I\u2019ve heard a lot about you,\u201d Demos said.<\/p>\n \u201cLikewise.\u201d<\/p>\n The two seemed to have trouble removing their eyes from one another, as if waiting to see who might look away first. Ferris glanced from one companion to the next, his eyes falling on their awkwardly long handshake.<\/p>\n \u201cAh, Alex,\u201d he said, lifting a plastic bag. \u201cYour stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, right.\u201d She pried her attention from the Italian, taking the offered bag with both hands. \u201cThanks for\u2014 oh my God. There\u2019s Mallomars in here. How did you\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI bought them in April.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cYou\u2019re the best,\u201d Alex said, her eyes glossy. \u201cUm, why don\u2019t you two find our table? I\u2019ll meet you in a minute.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure. Take your time.\u201d<\/p>\n Alex was halfway to the ladies\u2019 room when Demos spoke again. \u201cYou never give me Mallomars.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou called them \u2018processed marshmallow garbage\u2019 and then went on for like ten minutes about zeppole.\u201d<\/p>\n The Italian frowned as the host led them to their seats, leading them past exposed pipes and clouds of curling smoke. Copper-colored vents hung over each grill, gleaming above the black stone\u00a0of the tabletops.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd she was looking at me weird,\u201d Demos said.<\/p>\n Ferris\u2019 expression remained wooden as he slid into his seat. \u201cBlown away by how handsome you are.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShut up.\u201d<\/p>\n As if begrudgingly following Demos\u2019 command, Ferris sat in silence as he scoured the menu. The heat from the neighboring grills was doing little to ease the sweat on the side of his neck. A few minutes passed before he glanced sideways. Demos was chewing his lower lip, uncharacteristically edgy.<\/p>\n \u201cRelax,\u201d Ferris said. \u201cJust be nice.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am<\/i> being nice.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBe normal nice, like normal people.\u201d<\/p>\n Demos folded his arms firmly across his chest. \u201cI\u2019m a ray of fucking sunshine, Fish.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey, this was your idea,\u201d Ferris said. \u201cWhy did you want to do this, anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause.\u201d Demos\u2019 voice softened as his eyes dropped to the table. \u201cI like seeing you happy.\u201d<\/p>\n His words were barely audible over the chatter of surrounding customers and the sizzle of meat and oil at the neighboring table.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n Demos\u2019 features tightened. \u201cI said\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n \u201cHey, I\u2019m back,\u201d Alex said as she slid into the seat across from Ferris. \u201cHow\u2019s the menu look?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot bad, but they used too many different fonts,\u201d Ferris said, offering her one.<\/p>\n Alex\u2019s attention shifted to Demos. \u201cIs he always this annoying? Or just with me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlways,\u201d Demos said, the smile returning to his face. \u201cI think it\u2019s cute.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d she said. \u201cIn small doses.\u201d<\/p>\n At this point, Ferris\u2019 ears were burning. \u201cCornered by two assholes. What a perfect evening.\u201d<\/p>\n Behind his frown, Ferris felt a hint of relief in his pulse. It was good to see them talking, even if it was just to gang up on him. It was as good a way as any for two people to connect. Soon, their orders had been placed and a bottle of soju had been split between three glasses.<\/p>\n \u201cSo.\u201d Demos downed half of his glass, setting it onto the table with a clink<\/i>. \u201cFerris said you\u2019re getting your masters?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I\u2019m at SPU now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow? Where did you go before?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cColumbia,\u201d she said, taking a more moderate sip of her drink. \u201cFor my bachelors. Where did you go to school?\u201d<\/p>\n Demos faltered, swallowing his next breath before the circuits in his head managed to whip out a response.<\/p>\n \u201cAh, I went straight into the family business.\u201d<\/p>\n It was Alex\u2019s turn to falter. She stared at him, her smile frozen. \u201cThe\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n \u201cOur restaurant.\u201d Demos lifted his brow. \u201cI believe you\u2019ve been to Giorgetti\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRest\u2014 oh, right. Of course. Yes.\u201d<\/p>\n It took every ounce of will in Ferris\u2019 body to keep from burying his face in his hands. It astonished him \u2014 Demos\u2019 ability to be perfectly graceful, yet simultaneously fail at being a credible human being.<\/p>\n \u201cAh, I know what you\u2019re thinking,\u201d Demos said, his expression softening. \u201cYou\u2019ve probably heard the rumors in the news about my family.\u201d<\/p>\n Somewhere deep in Ferris\u2019 chest cavity, a guillotine dropped with a sick clunk.<\/p>\n Alex kept her eyes on Demos as she lowered her glass. \u201cI have.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI hope you don\u2019t believe that nonsense in the media. They always pick on Italians. I mean, can you imagine? Me, committing a crime?\u201d<\/p>\n Ferris\u2019 hands were gripped in his lap, skin prickling goosebumps and fingers clinched white. His stare flickered from Alex to Demos, then back. Alex sat in momentary consideration, drawing over Demos\u2019 features. Ferris could only pray she wouldn\u2019t see the truth \u2014 the bespoke shirt, the fine scar tucked neatly behind his fringe, the trigger finger, the dark\u00a0pitch deep in his eyes that burned at the sight of blood.<\/p>\n Alex smiled. \u201cI suppose not.\u201d<\/p>\n Ferris exhaled.<\/p>\n \u201cSo,\u201d Demos said, \u201cdoes he really talk about me, or were you just being nice?\u201d<\/p>\n The arrival of food was a godsend for Ferris, giving him something to do with his hands aside from cradling a glass of alcohol. Fortunately, the sharp aroma of spices from his stew did a fine job of slapping him back into the real world. The conversation had gone on without him. Since the moment Demos had shot her suspicions out of the sky, there had not been a single mention of illegal activities. Ferris would count his blessings.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I can\u2019t believe our moms set us up,\u201d Alex said, making an effort to hold in her laughter.<\/p>\n Demos waved a hand. \u201cBut his mom is great, isn\u2019t she? I love her cooking.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, um.\u201d Alex flushed. \u201cI haven\u2019t met her yet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou haven\u2019t?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019ll meet everyone soon, though,\u201d Ferris said, finally cutting in. \u201cI\u2019m taking her to Jake\u2019s wedding.\u201d<\/p>\n Demos\u2019 hand paused over his bulgogi. \u201cYou didn\u2019t tell me your cousin was getting married.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, it happened pretty quick. Alex and I are gonna to drive down to New York this winter.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh.\u201d<\/p>\n Alex noticed the abrupt drop in temperature, fiddling with her napkin before speaking up.<\/p>\n \u201cFerris told me you went to his other cousin\u2019s bar mitzvah when you were younger.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Demos said, his voice lacking the vigor of moments ago. \u201cIsaac.\u201d<\/p>\n The Italian fell silent once more. He could sense it coming \u2014 no, it had already come. That feeling had returned, the one in his chest \u2014 the rotten, caustic burn. He wrenched his focus from his food, his eyes flickering up to meet Alex\u2019s.<\/p>\n \u201cEmily was there, too.\u201d<\/p>\n She blinked. \u201cEmily?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHis last girlfriend.\u201d<\/p>\n Ferris kicked him under the table. The jolt went ignored as Demos kept his attention on the woman across from him.<\/p>\n \u201cAh,\u201d Alex said. \u201cYou didn\u2019t mention her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a while ago.\u201d Ferris was mumbling now, dragging his fingertips across the back of his neck. \u201cHigh school.\u201d<\/p>\n The corner of her mouth edged upward. \u201cYou two have known each other a long time, haven\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n Demos didn\u2019t miss a beat. \u201cEleven years.\u201d<\/p>\n There was a moment, a single second of stagnant time, where no one spoke. The air reeked like the back of an abandoned freezer, its walls coated in layers of patchy frost. Ferris\u2019 next breath was trapped in his throat, caught somewhere between his heart and his tongue.<\/p>\n His phone rang, dashing the silence over the proverbial breakwaters. Ferris dug into his pocket, grateful that the vibration hadn\u2019t visibly startled him. Just as he moved to turn it off, the name on the screen froze his thumb in place.<\/p>\n Ellen Hill<\/i><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d he said under his breath. \u201cI have to take this.\u201d<\/p>\n Demos and Alex shot him their own glares, each struck with disbelief at his treason.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry,\u201d Ferris said once more, then slipped from his seat and toward the entrance. The ringtone cycled, each repetition bumping his pulse. He narrowly missed knocking shoulders with a waiter before making it into the thick, muggy air outside.<\/p>\n He flipped the phone open. \u201cHello.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood evening, Ferris.\u201d Ellen\u2019s voice was as firm as he remembered.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s good to hear from you.\u201d Ferris somehow managed to avoid saying \u2018finally.\u2019 \u201cThough I was expecting Don.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon was paid a visit last night,\u201d she said. \u201cBy your competitors. He was able to handle two of them, but found himself\u2026 unequipped for the third.\u201d<\/p>\n Ferris swallowed. \u201cIs he all right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cQuite. We want that demonstration,\u201d she said. \u201cTomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTomorrow.\u201d His hand tightened on the phone. \u201cOf course. I\u2019ll send over the address in an hour.\u201d<\/p>\n Inside the restaurant, the silence had returned. Alex adjusted her glasses before eyeing Demos, kitty-corner across the table.<\/p>\n \u201cEleven years. You guys must be close.\u201d<\/p>\n Demos folded his hands. \u201cAbout as close as he\u2019ll let another person get.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd exactly how close,\u201d Alex said, leaning in just a bit, \u201cis that?\u201d<\/p>\n Once again, she had caught him unprepared. He didn\u2019t move, terrified that even the slightest of actions would betray him. Even so, he couldn\u2019t help but swallow, feeling the knot slide all the way down to his stomach. She couldn\u2019t possibly know. Ferris was clever, and he hadn\u2019t noticed\u00a0it for years. Then again, Alex was just as smart.<\/p>\n No \u2014 she was smarter.<\/p>\n Demos gave his best impression of a laugh. \u201cWe\u2019ve never dated, if that\u2019s what you\u2019re implying.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re sure? Not even just a little?\u201d<\/p>\n He stared at her. She was joking \u2014 she had to be joking. Her expression, her eyes, she was impossible to read. It was absurd, ridiculous to think that this woman \u2014 this nerd<\/i>, was overtaking him with the simplest of questions.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re<\/i> his type, Alex.\u201d Demos braced his smile. \u201cNot me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you really think so, then why are you\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n Demos glanced past her shoulder, indicating that their third party had reentered the restaurant. Alex left her sentence hanging, deserting her thought as Ferris came back to his seat.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry about that.\u201d He gave the two an apologetic look. \u201cIt was work.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo problem,\u201d Demos said. \u201cAlex is quite the conversationalist.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou two were just talking shit about me, weren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n Alex reached across the table to take his hand. Her palm was warm, tightening around his knuckles as she gave him a faint smile. \u201cWe wouldn\u2019t dream of it.\u201d<\/p>\n By the time Alex left, Ferris\u2019 head was spinning. Demos had covered the tab, but whether it was out of courtesy or guilt was left to be seen. The last half of their dinner had gone without incident, though Ferris could have sworn the two were almost being too<\/i> polite to one another.<\/p>\n \u201cThat phone call,\u201d Ferris said as his friend lit a fresh cigarette. \u201cIt was Ellen.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEllen?\u201d Demos shut his Zippo with a clack<\/i>, his interest piqued. The two had started their walk to the nearest train station. The sun had long since sunk past the horizon, making the summer air a tad more bearable.<\/p>\n \u201cShe wants the demo tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJesus Christ. I\u2019m going to have to make some calls.\u201d<\/p>\n Their reflections drifted past a diner window, passing through the reds and pinks of glowing signs. A weak breeze found its way down the avenue, barely enough to flutter the awnings lining the street.<\/p>\n \u201cShe said they jumped Don. He\u2019s all right, but I think it triggered her interest.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLooks like the Marianis aren\u2019t fucking around.\u201d A keen smile made its way across Demos\u2019 features. \u201cBut we aren\u2019t, either.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll see.\u201d Ferris swatted a plume of smoke from his face. \u201cBut, anyway. Um\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n His pace slowed as he attempted to formulate a sentence. He stuffed his hands into his pockets, dragging his thumbs over the fabric.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did you think of her?\u201d<\/p>\n Demos stopped. He avoided eye contact, keeping his stare straight ahead as he drew the cigarette back to his lips. Ferris knew what those long, thoughtful drags meant \u2014 he was stalling for time.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s perfect for you.\u201d<\/p>\n Ferris waited. He could tell by Demos\u2019 intonation, by the faint part of his mouth, that he wasn\u2019t finished talking.<\/p>\n \u201cBut she worries me.\u201d<\/p>\n Ferris knit his brow. \u201cWorries you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think\u2014 no, I\u2019m sure she knows.\u201d Demos lowered his hand, twisting the cigarette between two bony fingers. \u201cShe knows.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cKnows? Knows what?\u201d<\/p>\n Demos finally turned, shifting\u00a0his tight-lidded gaze to\u00a0his companion. \u201cEverything. She\u2019s too smart, Ferris. You won\u2019t be able to hide this from her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s all you have to say? She\u2019s too smart?<\/i>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFerris\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n \u201cAnd what about you? Getting all weird about the wedding, bringing up Emily like\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n \u201cAnd look how well Emily worked out.\u201d Smoke billowed from Demos\u2019 nose like the huff of an irritated dragon. \u201cAnd she\u2019s in<\/i> our family.\u201d<\/p>\n Ferris took a second to respond, the edges of his eyes dangerously thin. \u201cThanks, asshole. Thanks for bringing that up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t just pretend it never happened. And Alex is going to end the same\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n \u201cI knew this was a bad idea. I knew you wouldn\u2019t like her.\u201d<\/p>\n Demos looked away, catching sight of his face in the mirror of a shop window. \u201cI never said I didn\u2019t like her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s pretty fucking obvious, Ghost. I can\u2019t believe I let you talk me into this. Into everything.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cListen to me, I just\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n \u201cI always listen to you,\u201d Ferris said with a swipe of his hand. \u201cThat\u2019s all I ever do \u2014 listen to you. I thought you were going to be nice. I thought you wanted to meet her because \u2014 because she\u2019s important to me. But all you have to say is that she worries<\/i> you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo what are you going to do when she finds out? You think she\u2019s going to be fine with all this?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFuck, I don\u2019t know.\u201d Ferris ran a hand over his hair. It was something he had been trying not to think about \u2014 trying, and failing. \u201cShe cares about me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot enough, Fish. Not enough to let this slide.\u201d<\/p>\n Both of their voices had risen in volume, yet not a soul on the street paid them notice. Businessmen shuffled past, too caught up in their phones to notice the veritable cataclysm that was taking place in front of a hardware store.<\/p>\n \u201cSince when the hell are you an expert on my relationship? Why are you doing this?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause I\u2019ve see you when it ends.\u201d Each of Demos\u2019 word came up raw. \u201cI\u2019ve seen how much it kills you. I don\u2019t want to see that again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, what the fuck do you want me to do? Leave her before she can leave me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe longer you drag this on\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n \u201cCan\u2019t you just let me be happy for once in my life? Just once<\/i>?\u201d<\/p>\n Demos said nothing, unable to find his breath. There was a cavity where his lungs were supposed to be, an empty space slowly collapsing in on itself. The rims of his eyes reddened, yet still he stood in silence.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is your train,\u201d Ferris said, gesturing to the stairs. \u201cI\u2019m walking home.\u201d<\/p>\n The moment Ferris began to walk away, Demos found his voice.<\/p>\n \u201cFerris.\u201d<\/p>\n His plea went ignored as his friend disappeared past a group of tourists, their bodies crowding the narrow sidewalk.<\/p>\n \u201cFerris!<\/i>\u201d Demos\u2019 call was lost in the evening air, drowned out as a delivery truck rumbled past. Demos\u2019 legs failed him, leaving him motionless as commuters shoved past to catch their trains. The round lamps of the subway entrance flickered, casting a feeble light on the chipped paint of the railing. Sparks scattered as his cigarette hit the curb. He didn\u2019t bother to crush it out, only staring uselessly at the space where his friend used to be.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Summer was in full swing. Demos had found shelter beneath a bodega awning, inching sideways as the shadow crept with the minutes. Countless people had walked past, yet he had barely taken notice of any of them. The white-hot pavement and vague scents from a sewer grate had also gone ignored, omitted from his senses […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-340","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fishbones-book-02"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4oWx8-5u","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.fishbonescomic.com\/novel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/340","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.fishbonescomic.com\/novel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.fishbonescomic.com\/novel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.fishbonescomic.com\/novel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.fishbonescomic.com\/novel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=340"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"http:\/\/www.fishbonescomic.com\/novel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/340\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":578,"href":"http:\/\/www.fishbonescomic.com\/novel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/340\/revisions\/578"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.fishbonescomic.com\/novel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=340"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.fishbonescomic.com\/novel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=340"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.fishbonescomic.com\/novel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=340"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}